[wisdom]

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about wisdom lately. Maybe it’s because we are going through the “wisdom literature” in Grad Group – namely the Psalms and Proverbs. Or maybe it’s because we are studying James on Sunday mornings at church and in my women’s Bible study. Regardless, wisdom is a pretty important quality to consider. Throughout life, we all have decisions to make. And we can choose to make those decisions relying on our own wisdom or that of others’ or on God’s. Not that I’m saying these three options are mutually exclusive. In fact, I believe quite the opposite – God can speak directly to our circumstances through others’ life experiences and lessons “learned the hard way.”  In medicine, we have an axiom that “common things are common,” which when translated to the non-medical world essentially means we can learn from each other – if we act the same way as others have, we can expect similar consequences. We can and should learn from each other.

I was reading in Proverbs 3 and James 3 last night with my personal devotions and came across passages about wisdom which have never really caught my attention until now. In Proverbs, it speaks of Wisdom personified and the benefits of wisdom. I mean, after listing those benefits, who wouldn’t want to have wisdom? James speaks of types and attributes of wisdom, which help guide us with making decisions. Check out the following passages.

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being, Proverbs 3:7-8, 13-24 (NIV)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
 This will bring health to your body.

Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
  for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
  She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
  Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
  Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
  She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.

 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
  by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
  for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.

The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.

PROVERBS: Note the blessings of wisdom. HEALTH. BLESSING. PROFIT, YIELDS RETURN. LONG LIFE. RICHES AND HONOR. PLEASANT WAYS. PEACE. LIFE. BLESSING. SAFETY. SECURITY. LACK OF FEAR. SLEEP. COMPANIONSHIP. HONOR.

Two Kinds of Wisdom, James 3:13-17 (NIV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

JAMES: Note the definition of heavenly wisdom. PURE. PEACE-LOVING. CONSIDERATE. SUBMISSIVE. MERCIFUL. FRUITFUL. IMPARTIAL. SINCERE.

Now, let me ask you a question. You know that big (or small) decision you’re trying to make? Yeah, that one – the one that gets pushed to the back of your mind because you would rather ignore it than make the wrong choice? The one for which you are “seeking God’s wisdom.” Well, try applying these criteria to your decision-making process. Can you answer “yes” to the following:

• Are you maintaining wholeness of mind and character with your choice? 
• Does it promote peace? 
• Is it considerate of others involved? 
• Are you being submissive to God’s principles and following his overt commands in Scripture with the choice you’re making?
• Does the choice convey mercy? 
• Will it produce fruit? Are you consciously ignoring bias influencing your choice? 
• And are you sincere in your decision and words?

Obviously, wisdom is a pretty big deal to God. In Proverbs 1, He practically tells us that some of us ignore Wisdom when she’s screaming in our face for attention.

Wisdom’s Rebuke, Proverbs 1:20-33

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;
on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord.
Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to ignore wisdom in my life. Just some thoughts to ponder…